Clock



May 9, 1933 F. c. HoLTz Erw. 1,908,148"

CLOCK Filed Oct. 25, 1929 Ill Illlll H- mul LEM' I l imm" IIIIIIIIIIIIlllii f Imfens.

Eede/22% Patented May 9, 1933 PATENT FREDERICK C. HOLTZ AND KARL W.STRUCK, OF SPRINGFELD, EILLTNOIS, ASSIGNORS TO SANGAMO ELECTRIC COMPANY,OF SPRINGFIELD, T'JTJLINOES, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CLOCK Applicationfiled October 23, 1929. Serial No. 401,664.

This invention relates to clocks and more particularly to a resettingdevice therefor, whereby the hands may be reset at a predetermined timeinterval, having particular reference to secondary clocks which areadapted to be reset by an electric motor constituting a part of thesecondary clock and controlled by a master cloclr.

Tn a centrally controlled clock setting system, a master clock usuallycontrols the malring and breaking of a resetting circuit including theindependent motors mounted on each of the individual cloclrs controlledby the circuit, at predetermined intervals such for example, as hourlyintervals.

few seconds before the minute hand on the master clock reaches the hourpoint, the circuit is closed setting into motion each of the resettingmotors on the individual clocks, which in turn actuate an arrangementeither advancing or returning the minute hand to the hour marlr on thedial of each clock in the circuit. A short interval thereafter thecircuit is opened by the master cloclr permitting the individual clocksto continue to operate the hands individually, under their ownmechanical power. This invention has particular reference to an improvedclock resetting arrangement for a controlled'secondary clock in such asystem.

rhe main object of this invention is the provision of a novel and simplemechanical arrangement whereby a clock in a centrally controlled systemis reset.

Another object is the provision of a resetting mechanism which isoperated by automatic movement of the mechanism in one direction.

A further object is the provision of a resetting mechanism which isadapted to be automatically stopped after the completion of thesetting.l

Another object is the provision of such a stop mechanism as is conrolled by a member moving with one of the indicating hands.

A further object is the provision of stop mechanism which is moved toinoperative position by a member moving with one of the indicating handsof the clock between the resettings and which is actuated to operativeposition by the resetting mechanism during the resetting operation.

Other and further objects will appear from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the resetting mechanism onthe face side of the clock, with the face thereof removed;

Fig. 2 is a section, with parts shown in elevation, taken along the line2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to Fig. 1 showing' therelative position of the parts during the resetting operation.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the front mounting plate of aclock through which a center staffl 2 projects carrying the usual cannonpinion 3 and minute hand 4. The cannon pinion assembly comprisesprimarily the cannon pinion 3, resetting arm 5, cannon sleeve 6, andminute hand 4, all iirmly riveted together as a unit. This assembly isarranged to rotate upon a reduced extension portion 7 of the centerstaff 2, projecting forwardly from the front mounting plate 1. Thecannon pinion assembly is frictionally held on the center staff 2 forrotation therewith by a shoulder 8, against which a star spring 9 restsand the outer ends of which engage an enlarged hub portion 11 of the arm5. A pin 12 passing transversely through a hole in the end of thereduced portion 7 of the staff 2 and retaining a washer 13 adjacent thehub portion of the hand 4, coacts with the star spring 9 to hold thepinion assembly friction tight on the center staff 2. The cannon-pinionassembly rotates with the center staff, and can also be rotated by othermeans relatively thereto without rota-ting the center staff. Thisarrangement is common to most clocks, as will be readily understood bythose skilled in the art.

The resetting arrangement in accordance with the present invention isoperated by a motor 14 connected to a master clock controlled circuit(not shown) by leads 15. The armature shaft 16 of the motor 14 carries apinion 17, which through gears 18 and 19,

rotate gears 21 and 22, which in turn rotate the gears 23 and 24, whichare of equal size and mesh with each other as shown. The rotation of thelatter gears is always in the direction of the arrows indicated thereonin Fig. 1. Projecting from the rear face of and near the periphery ofeach of the gears 23 and 24, are pins 25 and 26, so positioned that bothpins are always in a lino parallel te a line between the centers of thegears 23 and 24, and such that the pins will arrive simultaneously inproximate positions on the line of the centers of the gears.

In the properly timed rotation of the minute hand 4 the resetting arm 5is, at a particular time period, in a position midway between thecircles of rotation of the pins 2 5, 26. The pins 25, 26 and the arm 5are 1n the same plane and the distance between the pins, when inproximate position, is slightly greater than the width of the arm 5, soas to receive the arm therebetween without any binding action thereupon.When arm 5 is in a position so that the edges 24 and 28 thereof may beengaged by the pins 25 and 26 upon rotation of the gears 23 and 24,respectively, the arm 5 will be turned either to the right or left asseen in Fig. 3, depending upon which of the edges 27 or 28 is engaged.It will thus be seen that when the pins 25 and 26 are in proximatealigned position, the arm 5 will be left in a position substantiallymidway between the centers of the gears 21 and 22, while the latter maycontinue to rotate until stopped by an improved stop arrangement whichwill be hereinafter described. By choice, this position is such as toleave the minute hand 4 pointing exactly to the hour mark.

Mounted on a pin or shaft 29 on the front plate 1 and adjacent to gear24 and in the plane of rotation of both the arm 5 and the pin 26, is astar wheel 31. The upper end of pin or shaft 29 is riveted over the starwheel. A star spring 32, mounted under star wheel 31, and theintermediate portion of which rests on the face of the front plate 1with the free ends thereof engaging the arms of the star wheel 31,frictionally spaces the star wheel from the front plate 1. These twosecuringmeans retain the star wheel in the plane noted. The star spring32 holds the star'wheel against accidental displacement by vibration orother causes. while it permits of rotation of the star wheel by theforce of engagement thereof by either the arm 5 or the pin 26.

In operation, as the hand 4 rotates, it carries with it the arm 5. Atapproximately 20 minutes before the hour the edge 27 of arm 5 engagesone of the radial edges of the star wheel 31, as indicated at 5a in Fig.3, and proceeds to rotate this star wheel in a counter clockwisedirection until approximately ten minutes before the hour, when the arm5 disengages the contracted radial edge.

At this time the star wheel is in a position slightly further advancedin a counter-clockwise direction than the full line position indicated31a, being frictionally held in such position by the star spring 32. Inthis position the peripheral edge of the star wheel arm 33 is withdrawnfrom the path of the pin 26 so that the latter is free to be rotated. Afew seconds'before the hour, the master clock completes the resettingcircuit, thereby energizing the motor which, through the train of gears17, 18, 19, 21 and 22, rotates the gears 23 and 24 in the directionsindicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. Assuming now that the secondary clockis running slow, the minute hand on the clock is at this time in aposition not quite up to the hour mark so that the resetting arm 5 isnow in a position, for example, such as that indicated at 5b in Fig. 3.

As the gears 23 and 24 rotate, the pin 26 on gear 24 moves upwardlybetween the two adjacent radial edges of the star wheel presentedthereto by the engagement of the arm 5 therewith in passing. When thepin 26 reaches the position 26a thereof, the star wheel is rotated backto the dotted line position 315 so that the arm 33 of the star wheelagain presents its peripheral edge perpendicb5 ularly across and in thepath of movement of the pin 26 so that the pin will be stopped upon thecompletion of one revolution. As the gears 23 and 24 continue to rotate,it will be noted that when the position indicated 2Gb of the pin 26 isreached, the pin will engage the edge 28 of arm 5, and as the ninproceeds around to the position indicated at 26e, the arm 5 will beoscillated to the left, thereby advancing the hand 4 exactly to the hourmark. The gears 23 and 24 will, of course. continue to rotate until thepin 26 strikes the peripheral edge of the arm 33 of the star wheel 31.as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, when the gears will be stopped.

At about this time the master clock breaks the circuit and the minutehand 4 continues around again under the control of the mechanicalmovement of the clock itself. The

cycle on the next hourly resetting is repeti' tion of that abovedescribed.

It will readily be understood that in the event the clock is runningfast. the pin 25 on gear 23 will return the hand to the hour mark by theengagement thereof with the edge 27 of the resetting arm 5.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that only two adjacent radialedges of the stal' wheel are employed during the resetting oneration, sothat a bell-crank lever would operate in like manner. The star wheel ispreferable, however. in that it is a balanced structure and further forthe reason that in the clock assembly operation, there is no danger ofimproper placement of the member in position as might occur with abell-crank member. Thus with the employment oi the star Wheel, no matterwhat its initial position the arm 5 will properly position it upon itsfirst hourly cycle.

As will be evident from the foregoing, upon the abutment ol pin 26against the peripheral edge 33 of the star Wheel to br' the resettingmeans to a stop, the impact is normally such as would shock the geartrain back to the motor. In order to avoid this condition, the gear 2l,is frictionallv mounted on its arbor 34, the 'friction being imposedupon it by a star spring 35, the ends of which exert pressure upon thegear so that it trictionally engages a collar 37, the spring beingclamped between the gear a: d the collar 36. This arrangement acts as areliet clutch and absorbs the shoclr incident to the sudden stopping ofthe gears 23 and rlhe clutch may be so constructed that after one ortivo revolutions of the gear 2l, the gear is decelerated by the frictionto a stand still thus stalling the motor 14, or it may Jfreely rotateuntil the line current to the motor fails when the master clock breaksthe secondary control cloclr circuit.

Thus it will be seen that We have provided a simple and eiiicient motoroperated means for resetting secondary clocks in a master cloelrcontrolled circuit, such as will reset the secondary cloclr atpredetermined intervals by movement of the resetting mechanism in onedirection only. To have iiurth-er proA vided a novel stop arrangementior such a mechanism, in which there is very little possibility of themechanism getting out el order.

lVhile We have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is tobe understood that We do not Wish to limit ourselves thereto. As will beunderstood by those skilled in the art, numerous changes may be madetherein Without departing from the spirit and scope oi the append-edclaims.

What We claim is:

l. The combination with a clock having a cannon pinion assembly, anindicating hand and an arm extending from d cannon pinion assembly, ofresetting means comprising intermeshing gears, and stop means for saidgears adapted to be engaged and leased by said arm.

2. The combination with a cloclr having a cannon pinion assembly, anindicating ha nd and an arm extending :trom said car n pinion assembly,or" resetting means comprising intermeshing gears, and st p means forsaid gears adapted to be engaged and released by said arm, said stopmeans coinprising an oscillatory element.

3. The combination with a clock having a cannon pinion assembly, anindicating hand and an arm extending from said cannon pinion assembly,of resetting means comprising intermeshing gears, stop means for saidgears adapted to be engaged and released by said arm, and means on saidgears adapted to be engaged by said stop means.

4. The combination with a clock having a cannon pinion assembly, anindicating hand and an arm extending from said assembly, of resettingmeans, and stop means adjacent said cannon pinion assembly and in thepath of movement of both said arm and said resetting means, said stopmeans adapted in one position of movementto stop said resetting means.

5. rllhe combination with a clock having a cannon pinion assembly, anindicating hand and an arm extending from said assembly, of resettingmeans, stop means adjacent said cannon pinion assembly and in the pathof movement of both said arm and said resetting means, said stop meansbeing adapted in one position oi' movement to stop said resettino means,and moans for operating said reset means.

6. The combination with a clock having a cannon pinion assembly, anindicating hand and an arm extending from said assembly, of resettingmeans, stop means adjacent said cannon pinion assembly and in the pathof movement of both said arm and said resetting means, said arm beingadapted to move the stop means to inoperative position, said resettingmeans being adapted to move said stop means to operative position, andadapted to engage said arm upon continued movement of said reset-tingmeans, thereby resetting said hand.

7. ln a clock, a mounting plate, a cannon pinion assembly on said plateand having an indicati. g' hand and an arm thereon, a resetting means onsaid plate comprising intermeshinlw gears and having depending pins,said pins moving in a path symmetrically with the aires of said gears, astar Wheel stop mounted on said plate in the path of movement of bothsaid arm and said pin, said star Wheel being adapted to be moved toinoperative position by said arm and subsequently by one of said pins tooperative position, said arm being subsequently engaged by one or theother of said pins to advance or return the hand to a predeterminedpoint, and one of said pins adapted to engage the end of one arm of saidstar Wheel to stop said resetting means after completion oi theresetting operation.

8. ln a clock, means for indicating time, means cooperating with saidindicating means for resetting at a predetermined interval, and meanscooperable with said resetting means to limit the operation of saidresetting means upon completion of a resetting operation andcontrollable by said indicating means to release the resetting meansbetween resetting operations.

9. ln a clock, mea -s for indicating time, means cooperating with saidindicating means for resetting thereoic at a predeterl mined interval,and means cooperable with said resetting means to limit the operation ofsaid resetting means upon completion of a resetting operation andcontrollable by said indicating means to release the resetting meansbetween resetting operations, and controllable by said resetting meansin the course of a resetting operation to be disposed in operativeposition prior to the completion of the operation.

10. In a clock, a mounting plate, a cannon pinion assembly onr saidplate, said assembly having an arm thereon, rotatable resetting means onsaid plate adapted to engage said arm, and rotatable stop means on saidplate adapted to cooperate with said resetting means, said stop meansbeing adapted to be engaged and rotated by said arm.

11. In a clock, a mounting plate, a cannon pinion assembly on saidplate, said assembly having an arm thereon, rotatable resetting means onsaid plate adapted to engage said arm, and rotatable stop means on saidplate adapted to control the operation of the resetting means, said stopmeans being adapted to be successively engaged by said arm and saidresetting means for first releasing the resetting means and forsubsequent operative disposition to limit operation of the resettingmeans upon completion of a reset ting operation.

12. The combination with a clock having a cannon pinion assembly, anindicating hand and an arm extending from said assembly, of resettingmeans disposed to engage said arm at a predetermined interval to ositionthe indicating hand at a definite pomt, and means disposed in the pathsof operation of said resetting means and said arm and adapted tocooperate with said resetting means to stop it upon completion of theresetting operat-ion and to cooperate with said arm between periods ofresetting to release the resetting means.

13. In combination with a clock having means for indicating time, ofresetting means` for resetting said time indicating means at apredetermined interval, comprising a movable element, means for movingsaid element to ei'ect a resetting operation, a movable stop means, andmeans on said resetting means engaged with said stop means during a partof the movement of said resetting means to positively move the stopmeans into position to stop the resetting means at the completion ofsaid operation.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 16th dav ofOctober, 1929.

FREDERICK C. HOLTZ. KARL W. STRUCK.

